Chic Handmade Pumpkins

Hi everyone.

It's that wonderful time of year again when 

many families are completing their 

Thanksgiving plans and working on 

putting everything in place for the big day when

family and friends come together

to celebrate the abundance

of blessings. 

Today, I wanted to share this 
fun project with you. 
It is:

Fabric Pumpkins. 
I realize 

that they aren't a new "thing". 

I've seen so many of them around and
was inspired by Becky at Timewashed.
She had a pumpkin give away. 
Her pumpkins were so pretty that I wanted to 
try making some for myself!
Thank you for the inspiration, Becky!

I wanted to share them 

because they were a real pleasure to make,
I liked the way they turned out
and the attached sentiment is
particularly meaningful. 

Gratitude has been my 
"word" this year. 
There's so much to be
grateful for and it's
the time of year that most people 
are counting their blessings.
_______________________________

The pumpkins are all made from 
thrift store fabric and the embellishments
are vintage, jewelry pieces
salvaged from there as well. 
Some of the pumpkins have crocheted, 
vintage lace around the stems which were
 found treasures also.

The cream fabric 
came from a thrift store shirt and the
black and tan fabric with roses,
used to be a vest that I
disassembled. I've had the pieces for years and
was waiting to use it for something special.

They are super-easy to make and would 
make a great craft for kids just learning to
sew by hand. 

"It's not happiness that makes 

us grateful, but gratefulness 

that makes us happy." 

Brother David Steindl-Rast

I hope you like them.

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Blessings,
Tamara

Linking up at
Your Whims Wednesday
Vintage Inspiration Party

Give What Lasts... "Living" a Gift For Others (and Ourselves)

It's a very cold, frosty morning here in the 

White Mountains

and we've had our first snow.

This morning, I've been thinking about 

what's important to leave behind. 

I've always thought that it

 would be a good thing to 

leave some kind of legacy.

 Some strong sense of something to ground,

enrich or inspire those who follow. 

And being so close to the holidays,

I'm also considering the possibility of these things

as gifts. Something that will make 

a difference to those that I

have the privilege to encounter.

Obviously, this type of gift isn't quite as convenient 

to give as one that can 

be wrapped in pretty paper.

So, I guess, they become a challenge as

well as a gift to ourselves.

Because, in order to "give" them

we have to be living them.  

So, hmm....I guess you could call it..

"Living" a gift instead of 

"giving" a gift.   

Or... 

Gift Living.   

Wouldn't it feel amazing to give something 

like this to someone

that we knew would hopefully be passed

down for generations?

We do that with heirloom pieces and 

handmade gifts. Wouldn't it be wonderful to

gift a person with some intangible "heirlooms"

as well?

Such as;

A sense of humor~ 

(Which is a little ironic.

Because I've never had one.

Hah! But I'm learning!)

What a great thing it would be to 

inspire someone

to laugh or be able to look at

circumstances from 

a "lighter perspective." 

Something that could help a person get 

through the tougher times of life.

And help someone else do the same!

Compassion~

There's something else that I feel

that I am having have had to "grow in to."

What a comforting thing to be on the

recipient of this loving attribute. 

Everyone needs compassion.

Kindness shown in a time of pain.

No matter what the source of that pain is.

Resourcefulness~

Another name for this could be:

Problem solving.

Being a thinker and then taking it a 

step further to the "doing" stage. 

What a fun way to stretch the 

imagination and be creative!

To apply gifts... talents and knowledge.

Or.... 

An opportunity to learn something new!

Of course, I enjoy going to concerts, movies and

and plays. They are fun, interesting and

 enriching. However, I don't want my life to

be characterized by that.

And it's so much more satisfying to use

what I've learned and the skills that I 

have acquired to enrich someone else's life! 

Everyday is filled with multiple opportunities

to apply this or to grow in it.

These are just a few that are important to me.

You've probably thought of your own while 

reading through this.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Thank you so much for stopping by and

have a beautiful a day!

Tamara

Being Present in the Moment

It's been a beautiful fall this year.

 

 Long on color, warmth and gorgeosness.

 

And though I've been thinking a lot about

making Christmas especially

meaningful, and working on Christmas

offerings for my upcoming

craft show,

I'm  consciously working at savoring.

 

Living in the now.

Being present in the moment.

 

The beauty.

Parties and music with family.

Walks and chatting with friends.

 

Noticing the small things.

The ordinary.

Because isn't that what life is

 actually made of?

 

And If I miss that..

I feel like I miss it.

 

I know that this isn't a new concept.

It's just become very obvious to me

that my quality of life

is greatly diminished if I neglect...

 

the present.

 

I have to practice this...

 

and when I do,

I find that I worry a lot less and focus

so much more on what matters ....

to me and others.

 

 

 Here is photo of some beautiful Side Oat

grass that grows native here in the

mountains of  Arizona.

 

And the verse..

A reminder that though

our world changes so much everyday,

this doesn't.

 

 

I hope you're having a peaceful and amazing week! 

Blessings to you,

Tamara xo

 

Shabby Chic Christmas Angel

Hello!

 Here is a project that I salvaged from my give-away pile.

 I can't believe I even thought of giving it away!

I have also come to like angels a lot.

I'm so glad I kept her.)

I had had it for many, many years.

I've been trying to be more frugal and use what I have

for decorating, gift giving and selling.

I had so much fun working on this.
With some paint, pinecones, buttons, old jewelry,
shabby flowers, hymn pages and lace, she was transformed!
(I forgot to take a before picture, But I'm sure
most of you have seen these sweet little angels around.
She's a little over 2 feet tall.)

Thank you so much for stopping by and

have a blessed day!

Tamara

I'm linking up at:

 Shabbilicious Friday and Christmas

The Interior Frugalista

Sundays at Home

Your Whims Wednesday